Build : Legendary Defender [Charr Guardian]

The Legendary Defender is just that. A legendary defender, If you are a DPS fanatic, this build is not for you. Neither is it useless, nor is it boring. It’s a very active member of the group. Contributing to DPS / Survivability via Buffs, and Keeping everyone up and alive without much effort on their part.

THE REASON:
The reason i like this build is because it grants massive amounts of buffs, while at the same time provding an adequate damage source, by granting you and your team stacks of might as well as fury.

This is a Promoted Thread. Please keep all bashing and negative comments to yourself. Any questions/comments/concerns you can PM me. Keep trashtalking to a minimal. IF you have anything to add, or anything that would make it better, suggestions are always welcome.

Weapons/Stats UsedRunes and Armor Sets

Draconic Cleric Gear 6/6
Toughness/Power/Healing Power
Rune of the Water 6/6

Ascalonian Catacombs Gear 6/6
Vitality/Precision/Healing Power

Rune of the monk 2/6

Rune of the water 2/6

Rune of Dwayna 2/6

Weapon Sets/ Sigils

Staff (Of Superior Energy)

Mace(Of Superior Energy)

Shield(Of Superior Life)

Exotic Glyphic Mace

Healing Power

Vitality

Precision

Exotic Ascalonian Shield

Healing Power

Precision

Toughness

Exotic Ascalonian Staff

Healing Power

Precision

Toughness

JEWLERY

Exotic Oricalchum Sapphire Ring of The shaman

Toughness

Power

Healing PowerSecondary Stats

Vitality

Healing Power

Condition Damage

Ancient Karka Shell

+25 Power

+25 Precision

+25 Toughness

+25 Vitality

+3% Critical Damage

+25 Healing Power

+25 Condition Damage

+3% Magic Find

Oricalchum Sapphire Earrings of The Shaman

Toughness

Power

Healing PowerSecondary Stats

Vitality

Healing Power

Condition Damage

[Back Piece]Back Peice of the Magi w/ Crest of the Shaman

Healing Power

Precision

VitalitySecondary Stats

Vitality

Condition Damage

Healing Power

For my weapon sets, I use runes of superior energy on both sets of weapons because that is an additional heal every weapon swap. Every dodge roll is healing being done.

Thank you. I’ve put alot of time and effort into thinking of that build. And while it may not be the best, or even MY build, It is what has allowed me to play the game how I like it to be played. It fits my playstyle 100%.

I understand that you like MI but it is currently one of our worst utilities. Nothing like being blinked to a friendly turret or full health NPC even though you’re standing right next to a low health player.

I’m not sure what you want out of this thread if you’re pretty much unwilling to accept advice about your build. There’s already a sticky for simply posting builds.

Cool build here. Was wondering what your opinion on the Honorable Shield trait is? Was thinking about getting that one because I use mace and shield a lot and it doubles as a toughness boost as well as a quicker recharge trait.

5 points in zeal is very situational, and you have little control over when it triggers. Often, the symbol created will be rendered useless by whatever brought you to 25% in the first place. Virtues 10 has a couple attractive options that can be switched out at will. Even radiance 5 is arguably more useful, because you can choose when to deploy it.

Just a few comments on the format. You should put Battle roar at the begining in the utility skills you use and precise that it’s a racial chaar skill imo.
It seems to be an interesting build, good job.

@ ArchTheFallen. I wouldnt know, I’ve never picked up a greatsword. Ever. Except to test zealous blade. I played my guardian with the Mace/Shield + Staff combo all the way to 80. I’ve never used anything else. I’ve already found what i love.

@Dan Why would you nerf this? Its for PvE. So a guardian is durable, nerf them? Isnt that what they are supposed to be? Durable?

How did you get a Glyphic Mace because I can’t find that on the TP? Did you use <name> Glyphic Mace skin? I’ve been trying to find a healing mace with a skin that I like. Since, I’m Asuran I would love to use a similar skin to the Glyphic Mace.

Writ of the Merciful – at 1551 Healing Power, Heals 283 Per Tick for Each Symbol, Meaning for a 7 Second Symbol (Because of Writ of Persistence), it heals for 1281 Healing over the duration for a single symbol. This will not only contribute to damage, but help the survivability of your team with proper placement.

Writ of Persistence- Adds a supposed 50% duration on symbols

Attribute Bonuses

300 Toughness

300 Healing power

300 Vitality

% Duration Increase/CDR/% DMG Increase

10% boon Duration

10% Virture Recharge Rate

30% Critical Damage

Automatic Bonuses/Abilities at % HP
50% HP*- Gain Aegis

[Trait Breakdown]

Valor

Meditation Master—20% meditation cooldown reduction

Retributive Armor – 5% Toughness is added to precision

Purity

– Lose a condition every 10 seconds

Altruistic healing.

– Heals for 83 for each boon applied to allies. This includes multiple stacks of boons, such as 12 stacks of might from “Empower” for Staff. Provides 249 Healing Per pulse, per ally nearby.

This is not only a major heal, but a major condition removal on yourself as well, save this for when it is absolutely necessary to use it. Just because you are at 3k HP does not mean you are going to die. Check the area around you, survey the landscape, if there are no mobs, and you are in no immediate danger, throw down a symbol and regenerate your hit points, pick out a staff and heal/Deal Damage at a range with Orb of Light, and your shouts.

Hold The Line

Hold the line is a great ability, not only does it provide protection ,but it provides the regeneration buff as well, it is often best to use this in conjunction with Stand your Ground at the beginning of the fight, not only to provide protection/regeneration, but to provide your team with survivability

Stand Your Ground

Stand your ground Stand your ground is another great ability, not only does it provide stability, but it provides the buff Retaliation as well, granting a 7 second damage return capability, when used in conjunction with Hold the Line, it provides the team with major survivability.

Merciful Intevention This SKILL Is Currently WORTHLESS

lots of people do not like merciful intervention. I personally do. It provides a 5-6k Heal on allies, sometimes it works as it should, and sometimes it doesn’t. Right now, it targets the ally closest to you, So I just manage to watch and survey the area around me, and if a teammate is in major trouble, I will just stand by him and cast this, healing him for a lot of hit points, generally enough to last the fight.

Battle Roar

Depending on the situation, I will either use battle roar, or Merciful Intervention, not only will battle roar provide 2 stacks of might, but it will also grant fury, which increases the teams critical strike chance by 20%.

This is an interesting take on Altruistic Healing, in which you aren’t focusing on Crits to get you a steady stream of healing, but just having a lot of boons and healing available to you via Mace and Staff.

I like the concept a lot, and I think you strike a pretty solid balance between aggressive melee and boon support. You’re obviously not built for damage, but with enough Power and Precision, it looks like you’re set. I feel like Mace doesn’t get nearly enough credit with Hammer being so popular in the PVE meta, but it really is an outstanding weapon. It actually does hit pretty hard, and it provides some very solid utilities.

So, overall this seems like a fun and defensive build, but without really feeling like a classical midline healer. I do have a few quick questions:

1. What’s your crit in Draconic Cleric?
2. Are you comfortable being without much toughness in your Ascalonian gear? Do you find yourself staying close to or above 100% health in that gear?
3. Why 5 Zeal and 5 Virtues? I’m skeptical about the choice of 5 Zeal. Yes, the Symbol at 25% health does benefit from your other traits, but how often does that symbol come up? You could move those 5 points in Virtues and get a bit more versatility.
4. What Dungeons do you run with this build? Which paths give you the most trouble?
5. I don’t know how much mileage you get out of Meditation Mastery, seeing how it applies to just one Meditation. If that suits your playstyle—cool, don’t change a thing. However, I’m curious about one thing:

What about Retributive Armor? Presumably, you don’t need THAT much Precision. Just enough to give you a decent crit value to take advantage of 30 Valor. Retributive Armor would reward you for dipping into the Toughness stat, which your Ascalonian set lacks. You’d get more survivability, and more toughness = more efficient heals. However, I really don’t know the math since I don’t know your stats. I have no idea where the breaking point for Precision is for you.

Anyway, good stuff. I like the build. Looks pretty effective. I might do something similar in the future, since I’m looking for a good way to mix aggressive melee with strong boon support.

I understand that you like MI but it is currently one of our worst utilities. Nothing like being blinked to a friendly turret or full health NPC even though you’re standing right next to a low health player.

I’m not sure what you want out of this thread if you’re pretty much unwilling to accept advice about your build. There’s already a sticky for simply posting builds.

I second this post, for the unwillingness to take criticisms. As a fellow guardian I am looking at the build and see it not as a pure defender but an in between type of defender to consider that the staff bearers role and majority of skills for a defender is already questionable. Build is pretty good, playable and for new guardians it would be an advisable base build, it has the utility to survive and support.

@Barricade. Its not Unwillingness to take criticisms, Its just that this build has done all the high level and high tier content, whatever needs to be done to change the build will be done by me, for me. Because this game is all about playstyle, there is no “Optimal” build, some are obviously better than others, but then again, so are players.

Skill is a major factor in this game, as is map awareness, and the ability to pay attention.

The build is solid, and teams really appreciate having a dedicated support. I wish i screenshotted all the times that people have said that the dungeon was made extremely easier by me.

This is merely a guideline on how to build a supportive/tanky style guardian.

I’ve really reconsidered taking the 5 points out of zeal and moving it to virtues, but I rarely use concecrations. I never have to reflect/protect allies because im too busy keeping them buffed up and at full hit points .

I’ve gotten the rotation down to where I can keep protection on allies for 36 seconds straight. with only a 4 second delay till the next 10 3/4 duration of protection. Regeneration buffs I can get on allies for almost full minute.

I see, so what’s the point showing this build if people can’t put their opion on this one? As you earlier said its done by you and for you, but when you post it we can see it and we can put our suggestions on anyway we can. It’s a good build just that I have a feeling that it could be better on my opinion, and feel free to answer or just whisper me for reasons like this. If its an exclusive post, I would move to close the thread and let no one answer or suggest anymore.

Apart from pricing disparity, I would also recommend Heal/Power/Tough over Vit/Heal/Condi jewels on the basis that 240 power converts to roughly 120 more damage EVERY HIT while 240 condi damage converts only to 60 extra damage per second on your burning which is only applied so infrequently through Virtue of Justice and other means. Retaliation damage returns are also scaled based on power. Sorry to say but your 50g getting those jewels kinda made you weaker than cheaper options :<

Great guide. I found out about the Precision/Vit/Healing Power gear just this weekend, and immediately thought of a very similar build (I’d emphasize Protection instead, and carry Staff/Hammer, but did seriously debate Mace/Shield as well). Now to run Twilight Arbor a lot to get both the skin and stats I want…

This is an interesting take on Altruistic Healing, in which you aren’t focusing on Crits to get you a steady stream of healing, but just having a lot of boons and healing available to you via Mace and Staff.

Yep. I love Altruistic Healing. It doesnt just help increase the parties survivability, but it also helps with my tanking ability as well, since it heals 1-2k a pulse..

I like the concept a lot, and I think you strike a pretty solid balance between aggressive melee and boon support. You’re obviously not built for damage, but with enough Power and Precision, it looks like you’re set.

Thats correct, with enough power and precision, the 30 points into valor allow me a 30% increased crit damage. Like i said, this build is not for DPS fanatics, but its not useless in that department either.

I feel like Mace doesn’t get nearly enough credit. It actually does hit pretty hard, and it provides some very solid utilities.

I Agree, i see very few guardians wielding maces. When people see me wielding a mace, they think, “OMG, why isnt he using a greatsword or hammer”. The truth is, symbol of faith is a major healing ability. Not only granting regeneration, but granting an additional 370/odd healing just by standing INSIDE the circle. Which is great on Tank/spank bosses.

I’m going to adress another question I’ve been asked constantly in the PM’s.

Q: What is the Viability of using Hold your Ground/ Stand Your Ground Vs. Consecrations for support?

Hold The Line

Hold the line is a great ability, not only does it provide protection ,but it provides the regeneration buff as well, it is often best to use this in conjunction with Stand your Ground at the beginning of the fight, not only to provide protection/regeneration, but to provide your team with survivability

Stand Your Ground

Stand your ground Stand your ground is another great ability, not only does it provide stability, but it provides the buff Retaliation as well, granting a 7 second damage return capability, when used in conjunction with Hold the Line, it provides the team with major survivability.

Pros’ Of Shouts

Short Cooldowns

Can Affect Whole Party (and then some)

Affected by Boon Duration

Significantly larger range than concecrations

Can Be used while /Stunned/Held/Immobilized/Dazed

Cons of shouts

If cast out of range, the shout is rendered useless on various party members not in range

Grants many boons that can be stripped by various enemies, rendering them useless, or worse, end up on the enemy themselves.

Now, Those are the reasons i use Shouts, lets move onto concecrations.

Concecrations

Consecrations are a type of utility skill exclusive to guardians, involving the placement of helpful effects on the ground.

Pros’ of Concecrations

Extremely Powerfull/ Long buffs that last on the ground, providing a multitude of benefits. From stability to condition removal, to invulnerability(somewhat) to reflecting projectiles

Creates Various Combo Fields, which, if used properly, can turn the tide of a battle.

If specced properly, concecrations become ground targeted.

Cons Of Consecrations

Extremely long cooldowns, even when specced into the 20% reduced cooldown, the shortest cooldown is 32 seconds on wall of reflection. Hallowed ground is 64 seconds. And Purging Flames is 48 seconds.

Stationary buffs, requiring you to stay in a given area. If a boss throws a serious AoE down in that area, that concecration is now rendered useless because you cant stand there, and the AoE probably lasts longer than the duration of the concecration.

I’m also going to address the 30 Valor vs 30 Virtue. Since I’ve been asked many times as to why I do not use 30 virtues.

Q: Why do you use 30 valor over 30 virtue, would it not be better to use 30 virtue for increased boon duration and virtue recharge rate? As well as doubling the healing from Virtue of resolves passive?

30 Valor grants Altruistic Healing, as well as a 250 healing bonus while using a mace, as well as an increase in armor and defensive utilities.

30 Virtues would grant a significant increase to boon duration, and would also allow your virtue of resolve to heal for almost twice as much, the only problem with using 30 virtues is that it gives really no benefit to the party. Where valor can give toughness to allies just by being near you, virtues can give no such buff.

Character has been deleted and remade into an engineer. After numerous hours of number crunching. Engineers provide much better utility and support and better suit my playstyle. Please close this forum. Thanks.

How to effectively increase your boon durations without spending many points in virtues.

Runes

Superior Rune of Water 2 of 6

Superior Rune of Dwayna 2 of 6

Superior Rune of The Monk 2 of 6

This rune set up will grand you a 30% boon duration increase for all other boons, as well as a 50% duration for regeneration. Which is a huge bonus, making your protection, might, regeneration, and retaliation buffs last longer.

Top that off with 10 points in virtues and you have a total of 40% boon duration, as well as a 60% duration for regeneration.

Renewed Focus
-This ability is one of the best guardian elites. It provides a 3 second invulnerability while simultaneously recharging your virtues after its completion. This is the primary elite skill I use. I primarily use this one in Dungeons.

Tome of Courage
– This ability is also a really good guardian ability. Providing massive healing to allies, as well as protection and regeneration in a large area of affect. I primarily use this one in world vs world.

Orb Of Light/ Detonation
-This ability is a quick 1.4k heal with my current gear. It provides a quick burst of healing as well as damage to any enemies in the area. The 10 second cooldown is nice, because it can be used again on the next weapon swap.

Empower
-This ability grants 12 Stacks of Might, as well as a nice 3.45k heal at the end of the channel. The short cooldown is nice, because it can be used again on the next weapon slot.

Symbol of Swiftness
-I personally use this ability not for a speed increase, but for a damage increase as well as another boon that can be placed on allies, and a symbol that will heal allies when they stand in it.

Line of Warding
– An awesome defensive ability. When used, this keeps enemy mobs from reaching the party, which when combined with some utility skills, you can keep enemies away from allies for 10+ seconds, allowing them to heal and regenerate thier wounds from your buffs.